Roller skate



Dec. 1 0,1946. "O aRE-SKE. 2,412,290

- ROLLER SKATE Filed Aug. 21, 1943 Patented Dec. 1Q, 1946 f It 1 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE y .Y 2,412,290 l, Y l' ai ROLLER SKATE Otto Gr.v Rieske, Buialo, N. Y. Application August 21, 1943, Serial No. 499,438

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in sport devices but more particularly to roller skates.

It has for one of its objects to provide a novel skate device of this character which is so ldesigned and constructed as to afford enjoyment and exercise to the user, and which employs a combination of rollers and endless belt construction wherein the lower stretch of the belt constitutes a ground-engaging track over which lthe rollers travel during the skating operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller skate which is simple, light and inexpensive in construction, whose rollers are adjustable to accommodate diierent sized shoes as well as belts, and whose belt and roller construction is such that the belt is eifectually retained on the rollers and serves to protect the rims of the rollers and prevents them from scratching the skating iloor.

A further object is to so arrange the rollersand belt that the skate will have a rocker action.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a roller skate embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 3-3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 4-4, Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the lock washers for adjustably retaining a roller in a set postion of adjustment on the skate-frame. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the same consists of a frame I of substantially U-shape in cross section which carries the roller elements of the skate and which is rigidly secured to the shoe -II by bolts I2 or like fasteners. The roller elements consist of ball-bearing supported rollers or pulleylike wheels I3 and I4 disposed, respectively, adjacent the heel and toe ends of the frame, and intermediate like roller or pulley-like wheel`I51 disposed between the end rollers, and an endless belt I6 of rubberized or like material passing around the several wheels, the lower stretch of the belt constituting a ground-engaging track over which the roller-like wheels travel during. thev skating operation.

The frame I0 is provided with depending end walls or bracketsI Il and I8 on which the companion rollers or wheels I3 and I4 are respectively mounted, and intermediate depending wall or bracket I9 on which the companion center or intermediate wheel I5 is mounted. Each of the pulley-like wheels or rollers has a groove 20 in its periphery for the engagement of the belt I6, and each has an axle in the form of a bolt 2 I` for supporting it on the frame. By preference, the heelbracket I1 is provided with a plurality of horizontally alined axle-receiving openings 22 while the toe bracket I8 has horizontal slots 23 therein for supporting the axle of the roller I4, whereby the end rollers may be adjusted toward and from each other to accommodate and adapt the frame I0 to different sized shoes. Furthermore, the longitudinal slot adjustment provided in the toe bracket enables the companion roller to be adjusted as desired to place the proper tension on the belt I6. For the purpose of effectually retaining the toe roller I4 in a set position of adjustment, a washer 24 is applied to its axle and has locking teeth 25 on its inside face which are adapted to mesh with corresponding rows of serrations or notches 26 formed in one side of the toe bracket I8 in parallel relation to its companion slot 23.

The intermediate roller is adjustable vertically on its bracket I9 and for this purpose the latter has upright slots 21 therein through which its axle extends. For the purpose of retaining the axle in a set position of vertical adjustmentl it is provided with a washer of the same type as the washer 24 adapted to engage companion serrations 26 formed on the bracket alongside its slot 21. As shown in Figure 1, this intermediate roller I5 preferably assumes a position below the axial plane of the end rollers I 3 and I4 to cause the belt to take a substantially arcuate path of travel along its lower stretch and accordingly afiord a rocker-like action to the skate.

The belt I6 is preferably of frusta-conical shape in cross section, and the roller-grooves 20 which receive it are of similar cross section, as shown in Figure 3. 'I'he periphery of the belt projects beyond the peripheral edges of the rollers and its outer or ground-engaging face is preferably made of rubber and is crowned or arched in cross section. The side edges of the belt are straight and are coextensive or in registering alinement with the side walls of the roller-grooves to resist displacement of the belt from the rollers. Adjacent their bottom faces the opposite side walls of the belt-receiving groove are widened by the provision of circumferential recesses 28. By this construction, the belt has a tendency, during the skating operation, to be crowded into the roller grooves and .'to be thereby expanded into the widened portions or circumferentiaI recesses 28 to thereby prevent the belt from accidently coming off the rollers, as when skating round turns. Furthermore, the belt projects somewhat beyond the peripheral edges of the rollers and ythereby serves as a guard or protector and prevents the edges of the rollers from scratching the skating floor.

I claim as my invention:

A skate, of the character describedcomprising a framefadaptedvforattachment toa shoe, longitudinally-alined, grooved rollers applied to the toe and heel ends of said frame, an endless belt errgaging the grooved rollers, said belt and rollergrooves being substantially frusto-conical in cross section with the tread portion of the belt projecting beyond the periphery of the rollers, and thei lower stretch of said belt constituting a groundengaging track over which the rollers travel during the skating operation, the side Walls of the roller-grooves adjacent the bottoms thereof havingy circumferential grooves ,therein4 into which 10 the-inner yportion of the beltisgadaptedto extend.

OTTO GEORGE RIESKE. 

